Mute for brass wind instruments



Sept. 24, 1957 J. G. salsas NUTS FORY BRASS `NIND INSTRUMENTS Filed June Aa, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i fihi?. a

Jo/m 6`. Briggs INVENTOR.

Ammqx Sept. 24j 1957 J. G. BRIG'Gs 2,807,182

MUTE NOR BRASS WIND 'INSTRUMENTS Fina June 8, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 2 V H. In".

1N V EN TOR.

John 6". Briggs M FMN United States Patent @hice Patented Sept. 24, 1957 MUTE FOR BRASS WIND INSTRUMENTS John G. Briggs, Miami, Fla.

Application June 8, 1956, Serial No. 590,125 4 Claims. (ci. 84-400) The present invention relates to a novel and improved mute which is expressly adapted to be used on and in association with a cornet, trumpet, a trombone or the like, and the object of the invention is to subdue the output of the sound waves emitted from the mouth of the bell thereof and to thus achieve a more desirable balance between these instruments and others of less intensity in a band or an orchestra.

Cutting down the intensity of sound output of blatant cornets and trumpets and bringing the heavy intensity of trombones in line therewith and in order to modulate the brass section andY attain desirable balance between the instruments of the over-all ensemble requires the use, as is well known, of mutes. Countless styles and types of brass -wind instrument mutes `are therefore employed depending on the nature of the composition being played and the ever-varying effects which may be called for by the conductor or leader. While open tones are required for blasting and other brilliant accomplishments a less brassy sound is essential in keeping with the requirements of certain renditions. The object of the instant invention is to make an added effort to provide trumpet, and trombone players in particular, with a mute which will soften and take the edge oit of the tone without requiring the player to needlessly restrain himself and thus interfere with tone and pitch by attempting to play too soft.

More specifically, the mute which is the subject of the instant endeavor falls in the category of so-called hat mutes which are brought into play when modulation of the tone output is desired and are doifed when open tones or another kind of mute lits the requirements of the occasion at hand. Looking toward a satisfactory solution, the invention in its preferred embodiment takes the form of what may perhaps be called a tam by reason of the fact that it resembles one in appearance and has the aforementioned hat qualities in that the primary parts or components thereof are constructed of sound absorbing cloth; namely, felt of requisite flexibility and durability.

In carrying out the invention a piece of felt which is preferably circular and resembles a disk is provided. This is of a diameter appreciably greater than the outside diameter of the mouth of the bell of the instrument. It is placed in spaced relationship exteriorly of the mouth of the bell to intercept the sound waves or tones emanating from the bell. It is centrally provided with holes wherever necessary or desired to permit the discharge or escape of the sound waves. A screen is provided and it contacts the mouth of the bell and is removably fastened on the bell to span said mouth and the disk, which functions as a diaphragm, is attached to the marginal portion of the screen by an endless annular felt band.

Although the screen may to some extent intercept and affect the discharging sound waves it is primarily employed to prevent the felt diaphragm from collapsing and being crushed or otherwise pushed into the bell.

Other and more specific features, advantages and objectives of the over-all concept will become more readily apparent from the following description and the annexed claims.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a front end elevation of the improved mute;

Figure 2 is an edge or side View of the same showing how it is removably mounted on the bell of a trumpet;

Figure 3 is what may be called a rear elevation with the mute removed from the trumpet;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the components, that is, the aforementioned screen;

Figure 5 is an exaggerated view in section with parts in elevation taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a View through the mute on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an exaggerated detail on the line 7 7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a slight modification, primarily one of size, which makes the device adaptable for use on a larger bell for instance that of a trombone (not shown).

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures l and 5 it will be seen that the numeral 10 designates a felt or equivalent cloth sound absorbing member. This is a circular or disk like piece of felt of requisite and thickness diameter. It is provided wherever necessary or desired with sound discharge holes or openings 12 of appropriate size. Attached to the center of the exterior surface 14 as at 16 is a finger pull 18, the ends of which are free as at 20. In order to dish or cup the central portion the disk is marginally darted at equidistant circumferentially spaced points, the darts being somewhat V-shaped as at 22 and located on the inner surface of the diaphragm as at 24. This is accomplished by stitching and folding or pleating in the manner shown at 26 in Figure 7. Assuming that the piece of felt or diaphragm is 9 inches in diameter it will be evident that when the darts are formed this will reduce the circumference of the felt to 8 inches. This gives the diaphragm a baggy effect and provides greater sound intercepting and absorbing surface. The tassel-like pull 18 is attached to the middle or central portion to enable it to be pulled away from the bell of the instrument. This enables the tone of the horn to be sounded into a larger tone absorbing surface. The screen is preferably pliant plastic so that it is flexible and non-corrodible and it is also of disk or circular form and is preferably at when it is normally used and it is denoted by the numeral 28 and has a cloth marginal binder 30. Intervening between the marginal portions of the screen and the diaphragm there is an endless annular felt or equivalent band 32. This has its circumferential edges formed into outstanding flanges 34 and 36, the flange 34 being stitched as at 38 to the outer peripheral edge 40 of the diaphragm. The flange 36 is likewise stitched at 42 to the bound outer edge of the screen. Thus a hat or cap formation is provided with the screen and diaphragm normally spaced apart when the device is in use. Attached by the same stitching 42 to the rear side of the screen is the outer edge portion 44 of a felt member which is here conveniently called a collar 46. This is of requisite fullness and size and the central portion thereof provides an opening 48. In fact, this collar when attached provides a pocket and the opening or mouth of the pocket is bordered and reinforced by binding cloth 50. The numeral 52 designates a finger pull of loop form which is stitched in place in the manner shown. The size of the pocket is reduced by lines of stitching 54 and 56 to make a smaller pocket for the bell 58 of the trumpet 60 seen in Fig. 2. The stitching is omitted when the device is used on a trombone as is brought out in Fig. 8.

The screen is plastic for two purposes; to enable the hat or mute to be folded easily and carried in ones pocket or stuffed into an instrument case. The plastic is not rigid and can be attened easily. Moreover, plastic will not rust or corrode.

The manner of construction and mode of use would appear to be clear and therefore amore extensive description is thought to be unnecessary.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. For optional use on the bell of'a trumpet, cornet, trombone or theV like, a mute which intercepts the sound waves emitted from said bell and no portion of which lits into the bell comprising a sound absorbing and modulating diaphragm disposable outwardly ofa'nd approximately parallel to the mouth of said bell,l saiddiaphragm having unobstructed sound discharge holes and being peripherally provided with means whereby' it may be capped'over said bell and readily applied and removed, said'diaphragm comprisingaexible felt diskand said'means embodying a ilexible non-corrodible screen disposed in parallelism 'to said diaphragmy and adapted to Contact and span the mouth of said bell in a manner to prevent said diaphragm from beingfundesirably collapsedand thrusting itself into said bell.

2; A so-calledhat-type'mute adapted to be capped over the mouth of the bell of a trumpet or the like comprising a pliant plastic flat circular screen adapted to span the mouth of said bell, ailexibley circularV piece of' felt, constituting a diaphragm, andv having tone discharge holes therein, an annular' band connectingtheperipheral edge of the diaphragm with theperipheral edge ofsaid screen and normally maintaining the diaphragm in spaced parallelism relative to said screen, and means carried by said screenan'dV adapteid'to4 paitially and flexibly eiribracethe bell in a manner to hold said mute in usable self-retained position on said bell.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and in combination with the components described, a first finger-pull carried centrally by said felt diaphragm, and a second linger-pull carried by said means and assisting in attaching the same to said bell.

4. A so-called hat-type mute adapted to be capped over the mouth of thebell of a trumpetor'the like comprising a pliant plastic at circular screen adapted to span the mouth of said bell, a lexible circular piece of felt, constituting a diaphragm, and having tone discharge holes therein, an annular band connecting the peripheral edge of the diaphragm with the peripheral edge of said screen and normally maintaining the diaphragm in spaced parallelism relative to said screen, and means carried by said screen and adapted to partially and flexibly embrace the bell in a manner to hold said mute in' usable self-retained position on said bell, andacollar fastened to said screen and embracing said bell in a manner to removably retain the mute in its usable position.

References Cited in the le of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 1,045,700 Greenwood Nov'. 26, 1912 2,470,597 Woodward Mer. 17, 1949 2,501,388 Hounnd Mer. 21, 1950 2,571,809 Aifesino oef. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,751 France sept. 12, 1947 

